Tactile drawing and writing device

ABSTRACT

A device for forming raised lines on a sheet of paper, or similar material, for making characters, designs, pictures, maps and the like, for tactile drawings and writings, the device having means for holding a worksheet tightly in place while lines are being formed, having means for leveling the work holder before locking the same in place, and means for guiding the stylus across a large working surface, forming the desired designs.

United States Patent 1191 Traylor [4 1 Dec. 24, 1974 1 TACTILE DRAWING AND WRITING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Donald R. Traylor, 308 Leisure Ln.,

Victoria, Tex. 77901 [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 289,069

[52] US. Cl 33/24 C [51] Int. Cl B431 13/00 [58] Field of Search 33/23 C, 24 C, 23 R, 23 D,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1955 Winstead 101/32 6/1965 Brewer 33/76 OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Random Braille Printer, N. C. Loeber, Vol. 11, No. 12, May 1969.

Primary Examiner-Harry N. I-laroian Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Phillips [5 7] ABSTRACT A device for forming raised lines on a sheet of paper, or similar material, for making characters, designs, pictures, maps and the like, for tactile drawings and writings, the device having means for holding a worksheet tightly in place while lines are being formed, having means for leveling the work holder before locking the same in place, and means for guiding the stylus across a large working surface, forming the desired designs.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATEHTEB M24 !974 sum 2 95 g TACTILE DRAWING AND WRITING DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for forming raised lines on a selected sheet of paper, or the like, for making tactile drawings and writings, a work holding framework of rigid material having means for stretching and anchoring a worksheet in position and having a movable reciprocating stylus for selectively forming raised lines on the worksheet, said device having novel locking means for maintaining the worksheet in place and for leveling the workholder prior to moving same into locked position, and novel means for selecting the height of the raised line to be formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the device. FIG. 2 is a top view of the device, partially in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the line forming apparatus taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational, fragmentary view of the line forming mechanism, illustrating a line being formed.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the line forming mechanism, illustrating the stylus and foot on the line guide.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side elevational fragmentary view of the paper holder mechanism, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side elevational view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed, and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the latch system employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the framework base to which the work holding frame 2 is hinged. A series of downwardly projecting members as 3, 3 having the tapered latches as 4, 4, the tapered portions being formed into flanged feet, are positioned to pass through the latch receiving ports 5, 5 and to be engaged by the inside surface of the locking members 6, 7 at one end of the slot 18 therein. The members 6, 7 are slidably mounted on the base member 1, and have the guides 8, 8 and slots 9, 9 in which the guides 8 direct the path of travel of the latch members. All of the locking members 6 are connected to the cable 10 and all of the members 7 are connected to the cable 11, and a connecting arm 12 on each locking member 6, 7 has a cable anchor and a cable port, so that one cable is anchored to the arm 12 and the other cable passes freely therethrough. Guide wheels 49, 49 at each corner have peripheral slots in which the cables are mounted and which guide the cables as they are actuated. A latch lever 13 controls the locking members 6, 7, the latch lever having an annular connector 14 to which the shafts l5, 15 are connected at one end, and the other end of the shafts l5, 15 being connected to the traveling blocks l6, l6 slidably mounted in the fixed blocks 17, 17. One cable, as 10, is anchored at both ends to the traveling block 16, and is anchored to the connecting arm 12 of every other locking member, and passes, through the parts in the connecting arms of the alternate locking members, and through the other block assembly. The other cable 11 is similarly mounted, being anchored to the other traveling block and anchored to the locking members alternately through which the cable 10 passes, and passing through ports in the locking members to which the cable 10 is anchored.

When the work holder 2 is closed, the members 3 will pass through the ports 5 and into the ports 18 of the locking members 6, 7 and as the lever 13 is actuated, the locking members 6, 6 will move in one direction and the locking members 7, 7 will move in the opposite direction, and the tapered surface of the abutting faces of the slot as shown in FIG. 7, and the tapering faces of the member 4 will bring the workholder 2 into tight engagement with the base 1 as they are moved into engaged position.

When the holder 2 is in open position, the leveling members 19, 19 which are pivotally mounted in the base 1 on the pins 19 which extend into the base I and through the leveling members 19 and which have the elongated portion thereof normally in parallel alignment with the upper face of the base member when the holder is in closed position, and the downwardly extending member thereof which extends into a slot in the locking member 6 or 7, will rock the leveling members and move the elongated portions thereof upwardly when the latch lever 13 is moved to open position, and the elongated portions of the leveling members will be maintained in this position by the locking members, with the upwardly extending ends in leveling position. This is accomplished by the slotted members 6, 7 moving and contacting the respective downwardly extending members and pivoting the elongated member into raised position. As the holder 2 is moved towards closed position, it will first contact the leveling members l9, and will rest thereon, which will level the holder 2 with the locking members holding the leveling members in leveling position. As the latch members pass into the ports 5, the latch lever is actuated to move the locking members 6, 7 and the lower ends of the leveling members 19, which are extended into the slots 18 of the locking members 6, 7, are contacted by the locking members 6, 7, and will move the leveling members 19 on the pins 19 to inactive position, as shown in FIG. 7. To release the workholder, the lever 13 is actuated in the opposite direction to move the locking members 6, 7 reversely in their respective paths and the tapered members 4 are freed from the respective locking members and the locking members 6, 7 as they continue to move, will contact the end of the leveling member 19 and rock it on the pins 19 and the elongated ends will be raised to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7.

On the upper surface of the frame I is the slot 20, the inside wall of said slot 20 being upwardly and outwardly directed. A flexible packing, such as the o-ring 21, is mounted in the inside surface of the paper holder 2, positioned to be pressed into the said slot 20.

A movable stylus is mounted on the hinged support 22, which has one portion extending over the paper 23 and another portion extending beneath the paper and paper holder, and this support is hinged, at 24, so that the handle 25 may be lifted off of the paper, and is hinged at 26 where it is mounted on the carriage 28, which moves horizontally on the horizontal support 27, which in turn is mounted at each end in the transverse bracket 48, which permits the carriage support to move vertically with relation to the paper. The carriage 28 supports the vibrator motor 29, which reciprocates the stylus 30, which is eccentrically mounted on the drive shaft 31 of the motor 29. The vibrator head 32 is adjustably mounted in the vibrator housing 33 by means of the threaded connection 34. A port 35 in the head 32 guides the stylus and the paper 23, in the paper holder, bears against the upper surface of the head 32, so that the adjustment of the head 32 will determine the size of the raised line formed by the stylus. Suitable shock absorbing means are provided for the head 32, such as the flexible washer 36 and spring 37 which aid in maintaining the head 32 in place and which is mounted on the carriage by means of the collar 38 and bearing 29. The horizontal support 27 has the hinged member 40 which extends all of the way across the workholder with the upper end thereof providing a bearing surface for the worksheet, and which provides a guide for the user, which may be easily swung out of the way when it is desired to work on the vibrator or stylus. The horizontal support has the tracks 41, 41 in which the bearing 42, 42 of the carriage ride. On the upper portion of the support 22 is mounted the pivotal foot guide 43 which has the foot members 44, 44 extending downwardly from the bottom surface, and between which the extended end of the stylus operates. Asthe stylus 30 reciprocates, it presses the paper upwardly between the foot members 44, 44, forming a raised line.

The circuit employed is illustrated in FIG. 8, where it is indicated that the power comes from a source such as the usual 100 volt supply (not shown), through the transformer 45 and through the line 46 to the switch 47 then on through the line 46 to the motor 29, and back through the line 47.

In use, the operator lifts the workholder off of the base I, and places a sheet of paper, or the like, on the base, with the margins of the worksheet extending over the groove 20; the workholder 2 is then lowered and as it rests on the leveling member 19, the workholder will be leveled, and as the downward movement of the work holder continues, the paper will be contacted by the flexible packing such as the o-ring 21, and the paper forced into the groove, and the inside wall being tapered, will stretch the worksheet tight as the workholder is closed, and the latches 4 will enter the openings and as the lever 13 is actuated, and the locking members 6, 7 moved in opposite directions, the tapered face of the locking members 6, 7 move against the tapered faces of the latches 4, 4. The switch 47 may then be actuated to start the vibrator motor 29, and the user may manipulate the handle 25 to guide the: stylus in forming such pattern of raised lines as may be desired, the carriage moving horizontally on the carriage support and the carriage support traveling in the brackets 48.

Continuous raised lines may be formed in such patterns and letters or characters as may be desired, maps may be outlined and such other designs as may be desired may be formed and sightless individuals may tactually determine the meaning of the words circle or square" and may learn to read letters, as well as to determine the configuration of articles of all kinds.

While paper is the most common material from which the worksheet may be formed, it is contemplated that all other types of similar material may be used, such as plastic sheets, or metallic sheets, and the vibrator head being adjusted to provide the size of raised line desired.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet and leveling means are mounted in said framework and bear against said workholder to level said workholding means before contacting the worksheet to be held on said framework.

2. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, said stylus and guide are mounted on a hinged framework having an upper and lower portion, the lower portion of said hinged framework extending beneath the working surface of the worksheet being held, and the upper portion of said framework extending over said working surface of the worksheet being held and maintaining one end of said stylus extended over said worksheet, the said guide having a handle and having foot members between which the extended end of the stylus reciprocates, said handle being pivotally mounted on said guide.

3. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means, and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet, for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, said work holding means having means for releasably locking same on said framework consisting of two series of movable locking members, one series of locking members being movable in one selected direction and the other series of locking members being movable in the opposite direction simultaneously, a latch lever for effecting the desired movement of said movable locking members having slots and tapered faces on said locking members at one end of said slots, latch members having tapered faces, said latch members being positioned on the work holding means to extend through said slots in said locking members.

4. in a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means, and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, said work holding means has downwardly extending latch members, locking members in said framework positioned to receive said latch members, releasably locking said latch members on said framework, said locking members consisting of two series of movable members, slots in said movable members to receive said latch members, blocks mounted in said framework having a fixed memher and a movable member, means secured at one end to and extending from one end of said movable mem' bers to one series of said locking members and anchored at its other end to the opposing end of said movable member, a lever between said blocks for simultaneously actuating each of said series of movable members in opposite directions and moving said movable members into and out of locking relation with said latch members.

5. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means, and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, wherein said work holding means is hinged at one margin to said framework, latch members mounted on said work holding means and extending downwardly therefrom, flanged feet on said latch members having tapered faces, locking members movably mounted on said framework having slots to receive said latch members and having tapered faces to be moved into contact with the tapered faces of said latch members, leveling means pivotally mounted on said framework having an elongated member normally extending parallel with said framework, and having a downwardly extending leg extended into said slot in said locking member and movable by said locking member to extend the elongated member upwardly to contact said work holding means when said locking members are in one position and to move said elongated member into inactive position in parallel alignment with said framework when in the other position. 

1. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet and leveling means are mounted in said framework and bear against said workholder to level said workholding means before contacting the worksheet to be held on said framework.
 2. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for rEciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, said stylus and guide are mounted on a hinged framework having an upper and lower portion, the lower portion of said hinged framework extending beneath the working surface of the worksheet being held, and the upper portion of said framework extending over said working surface of the worksheet being held and maintaining one end of said stylus extended over said worksheet, the said guide having a handle and having foot members between which the extended end of the stylus reciprocates, said handle being pivotally mounted on said guide.
 3. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means, and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet, for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, said work holding means having means for releasably locking same on said framework consisting of two series of movable locking members, one series of locking members being movable in one selected direction and the other series of locking members being movable in the opposite direction simultaneously, a latch lever for effecting the desired movement of said movable locking members having slots and tapered faces on said locking members at one end of said slots, latch members having tapered faces, said latch members being positioned on the work holding means to extend through said slots in said locking members.
 4. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means, and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, said work holding means has downwardly extending latch members, locking members in said framework positioned to receive said latch members, releasably locking said latch members on said framework, said locking members consisting of two series of movable members, slots in said movable members to receive said latch members, blocks mounted in said framework having a fixed member and a movable member, means secured at one end to and extending from one end of said movable members to one series of said locking members and anchored at its other end to the opposing end of said movable member, a lever between said blocks for simultaneously actuating each of said series of movable members in opposite directions and moving said movable members into and out of locking relation with said latch members.
 5. In a device for forming raised lines, a framework, a workholding means mounted on said framework, a stylus movably mounted on said framework and a vibrator for reciprocating said stylus against a worksheet mounted in said workholding means, and a guide positioned opposite said stylus and on the other side of said worksheet for moving said stylus in the desired pattern over the surface of said worksheet, wherein said work holding means is hinged at one margin to said framework, latch members mounted on said work holding means and extending downwardly therefrom, flanged feet on said latch members having tapered faces, locking members movably mounted on said framework having slots to receive said latch members and having tapered faces to be moved into contact with the tapered faces of said latch members, leveling means pivotally mounted on said framework having an elongated member normally extending parallel with said framework, and having a downwardly extending leg extended into said slot in said locking member and movable by said locking member to extend the elongated member upwardly to contact said work holding means when said locking members are in one position and to move said elongated member into inactive position in parallel alignment with said framework when in the other position. 